Alcohol-torch.



A. H. MELENBACKER.

ALCOHOL TORCH. APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1915.

Patented Sept. 7-, 1915.

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ARTHUR H. MELENBACKER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ALCOHOL-TORCH.

Application filed April 19, 1M5.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. MELEN- nacxnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alcohol-Torches, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to alcohol torches and the objectis to produce a torch for maintaining a gas generating and igniting flame and a welding flame, the construction being such that the generating flame is always protected at one point or another and hence can not be extinguished through rapidly moving the torch sidewise and therefore will always be ready as a pilot to rekindle a welding flame in the event that the latter is extinguished by a movement of the torch such as described.

Another object is to produce a torch of the character described by which a welding flame can be produced in about fifteen seconds, which operates efliciently and embodies the desirable features of simplicity, strength, durability and cheapness of construction.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain norel and peculiar features of construction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1, is a view of an alcohol torch, partly in side elevation and partly in central longitudinal section, the closing cap or dome being omitted. Fig. 2, is a central vertical section of the entire torch. Fig. 3, is a horizontal section taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2, but with the wicks omitted.

In the said drawing, 1 is a hollow cylinder provided with a permanent front or top cap 2 preferably sweated into place, and a removable bottom or cap 3, the latter being of conical form so that when the cylinder is inverted the interior of the cone shall constitute a funnel through which alcohol or other liquid fuel may flow until the desired quantity is within the cylinder. The cap or bottom 3 is provided with an annular flange 4, snugly embracing the lower end of the cylinder and interposed between the cap and said end of the cylinder is a gasket 5, to make the joint liquid tight.

The cap or bottom 3 is provided with a Specification of Letters Patent.

portion of said passage,

Patented Sept. '7, 1915.

Serial No. 22,323.

central vertical hub portion 6 having a threaded bore or passage 7, and normally closing the bore or plug 8, said plug being adapted for quick removal when it is desired to charge the cylinder with fuel, as hereinbefore explained. Secured in the inner end of the hub is a perforated distributing tube 9, the upper end of said tube being fitted into a socket 10 formed on the inner side of cap 2.

Eccentrically the cap 2 is provided with a tubular extension ll, the lower portion of the passage of said extension being threaded at 12 and of less diameter than the upper and the wall of the extension is provided with a series of vertical passages 13, arranged in a circular series around the threaded portion of the bore. 14 is a pipe screwed into the threaded portion 12 of the bore of said extension and 15 is a generating cap secured upon the upper end of said pipe and spaced a short di tance above the extension 11, the said cap having a discharge orifice 16 in a plane a short distance above the upper end of the pipe 1-1. The cap 15 is preferably of aluminum, as I have found that by using such metal, the generating action is facilitated. Preferably the cap is provided with a base flange 17 cut away at 18 adjacent the orifice 16, so as to give the generating and ignition flame an unobstructed path to the orifice for ignition purposes.

19 is a series of wicks extending through the passages 13 and hanging pendently from the cap into the cylinder. Above the passages the said wicks are coiled spirally or otherwise around the pipe 14, so as to completely fill or pack the bore or passage of extension 11 above the passages 13. These wicks serve to feed the liquid fuel by capillary attraction to the top of the extension 11 where they may be ignited and thus produce a flame which envelops the cap 15 and raises the temperature of the same 'sufli ciently high for generating gas at a pressure within the cap, this gas being produced through the use of a wick 20 which extends through the tube 14 and'into the cylinder, and supplies fuel by capillary attraction to the cap.

The flame from the burning wicks 19 effects generative action in th fteen seconds if alcohol is and the pressure generated charges the gas outwardly,

e cap in about in the cap diethe gas being passage is a threaded.

used as the fuel it is desired to usethe torch.

instantly ignited by the generating flame I and burning with intense heat.

is several In practice the, welding flame inches in length and of slender tapering form, and' it can be employed in delicate Welding operations, being, of course, de-

signed chiefly for indoor Work, as in welding electric light fixtures and the like.

The flame can be readily blown out, but

will not become extinguished through careless handling, that is, by being swung carelessly through the air, as frequently happens with the ordinary torches, the occurrence, of course, being annoylng 1nthe event that the operator 15 upon a ladder or scafiold and torch embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and which may be modified in minor particulars without departing from the principle of construction involved or sacrificing any of the advantages ofthe appended claims. I

I claim:

1-. A liquid fuel torch, comprising a tank having a communicating tubular extension,

the bore or passage of which is of smaller diameter at its lower end than at itsiupper end, and is threaded at such lower end,

said extension having a series of passages which establish communication between the upper or enlarged portion of saidbore or passage and the interior of'the tank, a pipe extending centrally and vertically through I said extension and of diameter correspond- Gopiesofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the with a liquid tight relation,

ing to the threaded portion of thesaid bore or passage and externally threaded to cooperatively engage said threaded portion of hol- L the bore or passage of the extension, a low cap secured upon the upper end of said pipe and spaced above the said extension and provided with a jet orifice, a series of wicks extending through said series of passages and down into the tank, and spirally wound around the said pipe and filling the said extension above the said series of passages, and wicking extending through the said pipe and into the tank.

2. A liquid fuel torch havinga permanent cap at one end and a removable cap at the other, the latter being of conical form and provided with a central bore or passage, a screw plug closing said bore or passage a perforated pipe extending from one cap to the other and held in position thereby, a tubular extension for and communicating with the tank and of variable interior diameter and provided with a series of passages establishing communication between the interior of the tank and the portion of said extension which is of greatest interior diameter, a pipe extending through said extension and fastened therein, wicking extending through said passages and wound around said pipe and filling the extension at its upper ends, a generating cap upon the said pipe and above said extension and provided with a jet orifice, and a wicking extendingthrough said pipe'and into the tank and said cap.

In testimony whereof, I aiflx my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR H. MELENBACKER.

Witnesses:

HELEN C. RoDGERs, G. Y. THORPE.

Commissioner of Patents.

1 Washington, D. G. 

